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At the Rink: Jets at Stars

by
Steve Hunt
/ NHL.com

DALLAS -- The Dallas Stars are 4-0-1 in their past five games at American Airlines Center, but coach Lindy Ruff would like to see them break out for their first Central Division win (0-6-3) Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets.

"Every game's important for us right now," Ruff said after the morning skate. "We took a good step in the right direction again [with a 4-1 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday]. I think it's just becoming a consistent team where we're not two steps forward and two back. We got to win games. It doesn't matter if it's Central Division. You name it, we have to win games."

Ruff is keeping his forward lines and defensive pairings identical from the win Saturday against Montreal, a victory which snapped a three-game losing streak.

Goalie Kari Lehtonen was first off the ice for Dallas and will start his second straight game and 23rd of the season.

Stars center Tyler Seguin continues to pace the NHL with 21 goals and is tied with Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby for the League lead in points with 35. Seguin is one player the Jets will be highly aware of Tuesday.

"I've always found him to be a very creative player and he's got people to play with now to complement him in that role," Jets coach Paul Maurice said. "[He's] so dangerous. If you score 21 [goals] over the course of a season, you're a good player. If you can do that before the 30-game mark, you're a great player."